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R. EINBI'GLER. VISUAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 247,323. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

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R. EINBIGLER.

VISUAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 20 1881.

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RUDOLF EINBIGLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

. VISUAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,323, datedSeptember 20, 1881.

Application filed June .24, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, RUDoLF EINBIGLER, asubject of the Empire of Brazil,residingin the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VisualSignaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus for producing orexhibiting visual signals by the action of an electric current upon anelectro magnet or magnets which are known as annunciators. It moreparticularly relates to that class of apparatus which is designed todisplay or conceal signals which are intended to be visible at aconsiderable distance, and also to signals such as are employed onrailroads to exhibit or conceal a light for use at night, or a number,letter, or other charactor or a color during the day.

The objectof my invention is to so construct the operating mechanism ofa visual signal that a given electric power may be made to operate amuch larger signal than has been possible in visual signals heretoforein use, while at the same time the mechanism will occupy less space andbe more simple and economical in its construction.

The subject-matter claimed will be hereinafter specifically designated.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus constructed inaccordance with my invention in the best way now known to me, in which IFigure 1 represents a plan view of the ap-' paratus with a diagram ofthe circuit connec tions; Fig. 2, a side elevation with part ofthe'supporting-frame removed Fig. 3, a front elevation of the apparatus in;a position concealing the signal; and Fig. 4 shows the signalas itappears when displayed or exhibited.

In the drawings, AB represent two straight electro-magn-ets, each ofwhich consists of a single coil of wire enveloping an iron core, theprojecting ends of which cores a b c d are provided with soft-ironextension or pole pieces a b 0 d, which are of a length exceeding thediameter of the coils of the electro-magnets. These pole-pieces arefastened to the supporting-frames O G by the screws a b c diwhich extendthrough the supporting-frame and polepieces and into the cores of theelectro-magnets, and thus firmly hold the electro-magnets andpole-pieces together and to the frames 0 C. These supporting-framesshould be constructed of brass or other non-magnetic metal, so as toallow of no magnetic connection between the poles of theelectro-magnets'. The pole-pieces a b c d are preferably constructed inthe form of a trapezium, as best seen in Fig. 2, in order to moreconveniently actuate the armatures, as hereinafter explained.

Three soft-iron armatures, D, E, and F, are employed, which aremechanically linked together into a single system. These armatures areparallel to the axes of the electro-magnets and at right angles to thepole-pieces. The armatures D and E have their axes of oscillationparallel to the axes of the coils of the electro-rnagnets, so that theends of both polepieces can freely act on their respective armatures. Athird soft-iron armature, F, is mounted between the pole-pieces of therespective electro-magnets, and is pivoted at its upper corners to theframes 0 and O, as shown at h, and, like the armatures D and E, has itsaxis of oscillation parallel with the axes of the coils of bothelectro-magnets. This armature, being placed between and close to thepole-pieces of each electromagnet, is, of course, within the commonmagnetic field of both. The armatures D, E, and F, being respectivelypivoted to the framesO and O, as described, are joined together byconnecting rods or links it, pivoted to them, preferably in the middleof their lengths. Hence all the armatures form a single system, and willbe simultaneously moved by the action upon them of either of theelectro-magnets A B. An upright arm, 9, is rigidly attached, preferably,to the central armature, F. A horizontal finger, g, is joined to theupper extremity of the arm g, and preferably atright angles tothe samewhen in a perpendicular position,which.=extends through a hole in thebase-board or support H, in order to actuate the signaling mechanism,which will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 4, G represents a plate of sheet metal, which may beof any convenient size, which is permanently secured to a board or othersupport, H, and bears the lower half of a designating number, letter,word, or-other character. Another plate, G, of the same dimensions asthe plate G, is hinged at its lower edge to the upper edge of plate G,and this bears the upper or remaining half of the designating-character.Thus if the plate G be folded back so that it is parallel with thesupport H, it will expose the upper, and the plate G the lower, portionofthe designating-character, which, in the figure, is the number 15,while if the plate G be folded down so that its upper edge is coincidentwith the lower edge of the plate G, it will completely cover up andconceal the character. Acounter-balance, w, is secured to the lower orhinged edge of the plate G, which should be of such weight that if theplate G be placed in a position of abouteightyfive degrees from ahorizontal plane, the plate and weight will be in a condition ofunstable equilibrium. An aperture, in the base or support H allows theweight w to freely pass through in moving from one position to theother.

The operation of my improved signal apparatus is as follows: If acurrent of electricity be sent through the coil of electro-magnet A,magnetizing its core and pole-pieces a I), the armature D, being pivotedat its lower edge, will be drawn toward the upper edge of the poles atb, and the armature F, on the opposite side of said poles, being pivotedat its upper edge, will be drawn toward the lower edge of the oppositeside of said poles. This movement of the armatures is communicated tothe upright arm g, which carries with it the finger g, causing theprojection g to strike the counter-balance to with sufficient force toturn it into a position to overbalance the plate G, to which it isattached, in consequence of which it falls into the aperture 20,bringing the plate into an upright position, its upper edge restingagainst the upper portion of the support H, as shown in Fig. 3, andexhibiting the signal. If, now, it is desired to return the signalplateG to a position for concealing the sig- I131, a current of electricityis transmitted through the coil of the other electro-magnet, B,magnetizing its core and pole-pieces c and d, and attracting thearmature F toward the lower edge of the pole-pieces c and d, and at thesame time the armature E toward the upper edge of the pole-pieces d andc on the opposite side from the armature F, being the reverse of theoperation hereinbefore described. The finger g is thus caused to strikeagainst the plate G with sufficient force to cause it to overbalance theweight w and descend into the position shown in Fig. 3, thus concealingthe signal, while the weight returns to its upright position, in whichit occupies the upper part of the aperture 20. The plate G and weight towill remain in this position until again actuated by the agency ofelectro-magnet A, as hereinbefore described.

1 will now describe the circuits for operating the electro-magnets A andB.

One of the terminals of the coil of each electro-magnet is connectedwith one pole of a battery, P, either through the ground or by a wirewhich is connected with said battery, which latter I have shown indiagram in connection with Fig. 1. The wire 1 connects the terminals ofelectro-magnets A and B with battery P.

The circuit-closer which I prefer to employ is also shown in connectionwith Fig. 1, and consists of a spring or resilient strip of metal, j,securely fixed at its upper end to a support, J, which may consist of aboard, wall, or panel, or any object to which the same can beconveniently attached. Attached to the support J are two metalliccontact-points, k k, placed on either side of the free end of themetallic strip j, asshown, to which are attached the wires 4. and 3,respectively leading to the remaining terminals of the coils ofelectro-magnets B and A. A spindle or rod, L, having a knob, l, at itsouter extremity, is arranged to slide to and fro through a socket,K,attached to the support J, and is formed into a shifting yoke at itsinner end, as shown in section in the figure. The spring j extendsthrough said yoke so that each end of the latter forms a stop, on n,therefor. By drawing the knob l outward the spring j is forced by thestop m toward the support J, and comes in contact with the point therebyclosing the circuit and transmitting a current from the positive pole ofthe battery P, through wire 2, spring J, contact-point 7c, wire 3, coilof electro-magnet A, (thus magnetizing its core and polepieces,) andwire 1, to the negative pole of the battery, while, on the contrary, ifthe knob i be pushed inward toward the support J, the springj is broughtin contact with the point is by the pressure of stop a, and the currentis transmitted from the positive pole of battery P, through wire 2,spring j, contact-point k, wire 4, coil of electro-magnet B,(magnetizing its core and pole-pieces,) and wire 1, to the negative poleof the battery. Thus if it is desired to exhibit the signal hereinbeforedescribed, the spring j is brought in contact with point It by pullingthe knob ioutward, which closes the circuit and transmits the currentthrough electro-magnet A, as described, magnetizing its core andpole-pieces, which by the operation hereinbefore described places theplate G in an upright position and exhibits the signal. If it is desiredto conceal the signal, the knob i is pushed inward toward the support J,press ing the spring j against the contact-point k, which closes thecircuit and magnetizes the core and pole-pieces of electro-magnetB,which by the means hereinbefore explained conceals the signal.

By an obvious modification of the apparatus described it may be made useof with ad vantage as a signal to exhibit or concealalamp for use onrailroads, or in other places where it is desirable to employ a light asa signal. This may be done by constructing the support vH partly ofglass and arranging it to accommodate any suitable lighting apparatuswhich it may be desirable to conceal or exhibitby means of the plate G.In this case it would jecting from the outer ends of the plate G,

instead of the single one shown in the drawings, so that they will notoccupy any space within the glass signal.

It is obvious that many modifications may be made in my inventionwithout departing from the principle thereof. Forinst-ance, there may beaseries of several electro-magnets with theirarmatures,instead of thetwo shown,which would probably be advantageous, if it is desirable tooperate a very large or heavy signalplate.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially ashereinbefore set forth, of two electro-magnets, each consisting of asingle coil of wire enveloping an iron core, three armatures whose axesof oscillation are parallel to the axes of said coils, one of saidarmatures being between the respective poles and within the magneticfield of both of said electro-magnets, and one or more connecting rodsor links uniting said armatures.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of twoelectro-magnets, each consisting of a single coil of wire enveloping aniron core, three armatures whose axes of oscillation are parallel to theaxes of said coils, one of said armatures being between the poles andwithin the magnetic field of both of said electro-magnets, one or moreconnecting rods or links uniting said armatures, and mechanism,substantially such as described, for actuating a visual signal.

3. In asignalin g apparatus, the combination, substantiallyashereinbefore set forth, ot'a concealing or exhibiting plate hinged atone of its edges, and a counter-balance attached to or near the hingededge of said plate, whereby the plate is maintained in a position toeither conceal or exhibit a signal.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of twoelectro-magnets, each c'onsistingof a single coil of wire enveloping aniron core, three armatures whose axes of oscillation are parallel to theaxes of said coils, one of said armatures being between the respectivepoles and within the magnetic field of both of said electro-magnets, oneor more connecting rods or links uniting said armatures, an arm or rodattached to said connecting-rods, a hook or finger attached thereto, anda visual signal actuated by the movements of said finger, provided witha concealing or exhibiting plate hinged at one edge, and having acounter-balance attached to or near the hinged edge of said plate.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of thecircuit-wires, their two insulated contact-points, the interposedcontact-spring, and the shifting yoke embracing the spring to controlits electrical connection with either of said insulated contact-points.

6. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the twoelectro-magnets, circuit-wires respectively connecting saidelectro-magnets with two insulated contact-points, the interposedcontact-spring, and the shifting yoke embracing the spring to controlits electrical connection with either of the said insulatedcontact-points and the electro-magnet connected therewith.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of May,A. D. 1881.

RUDOLF EINBIGLER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. KENYON, MILLER O. EARL.

